Vincy Premier T10 League 2020 Final Highlights: Salt Pond Breakers win title

Delorn Johnson bowls the 9th over. The batsmen run even when their bats do not make contact. And finally they lose a wicket in the process. Haywood is gone for 10. Rayan Williams hits the fifth ball of the over for six. Gets a single off the last ball to get back on strike for the last over. Williams moves on to 15. 28 needed to win in the last over.

Wesrick Strough, the highest wicket taker in the VPL, is introduced into the attack in the 8th over. His services, though instrumental in the Salt Pond Breakers reaching the final, does not have much to do today. And he bowls a disappointing over, bowling many wides and getting smacked for four by Haywood. 39 required in the last 2 overs

The seventh over brings the seventh wicket. Othneil is out for 4. Ambris grabs the catch. Jeremy Layne picks his second wicket. Jeremy Haywood comes out at No 8. And is flored by a delivery from his namesake. He sits on the floor for a moment, even though the ball does not hit him, his act embodying how the Hikers have been floored by an invisibe opponent today - their fear of the occasion. Rayan Williams not out on 6, Haywood on 1.

The wicket deluge continues. Camarlo Cain is run out. he goes for 1, keeping up his side's practice of not troubling the scorers much in this match. Rayan Williams joins his fellow bowler Othnell Lewis at the crease. Both Lewis and Williams run their runs hard. 55 needed in the last 4 overs, with the Hikers lower order being asked to do the impossible.

Othneil Lewis, in the uncharasteric role of having the bat in hand, has joined Camarlo Cain. Sunil Ambris starts bowling the sixth over with the Hikers needing a miraculous recovery by the Hikers lower order to make a match of this.

No 6 Camarlo Cain joins Maloney, with the Hikers batting order being tested like they have not been before. Desron Maloney gets some welcome runs with a shot piercing the infield on the leg side. But he is then out - caught and bowled by Jeremy Layne. The skipper departs for 5 off 5 balls. The Salt Pond Breakers have uprooted the entire Hikers batting order with not even half of the target reached. The loudspeakers at the stadium start blaring songs in anticipation of an imminent Salt Pond Breakerds victory.

Cosmus Hackshaw the new batsman in at No 5. Ambris starts off his over with four dot balls. And the fifth ball brings a wicket. Hackshaw is out for a duck. The Hikers' chase is falling apart, with their skipper Maloney looking on from the non-striker's end, not out on 0 off 1 ball. Any South African cricket fans looking on would be tempted to utter the c-word, seeing how the Hikers have fallen on their chins in this chase.

Drama at the end of the 3rd over. Dean Browne did not think he was out and gave a shocked reaction when the umpire raised his finger. He goes down on his knee in disappointment after he crosses the ropes. He had looked to be in fine form today. But he is out for 13. Sunil Ambris comes on to bowl the 4th over. Ambris has a lengthy discussion with the umpire before the over.

Dean Browne, the quietest top order batsman in the Hikers team in the VPL, plays two consecutive lofted drives on the off side for two fours against Harry. Could this be his day? He has been joined by skipper Desron Maloney. Harry comes back with two dot balls on the money. Dean Browne slams the fifth ball down the ground for another four. But there is another disaster for the Hikers off the last ball. Dean Browne is run out!

Delorn Johnson bowls the second over, with a slip in place for him. And the Salt Pond breakers continue their good work in the field. What should have been Dillon's first boundary is cut off just at the ropes by Walker. And the ball stops just short of the boundary off the fifth ball again. The outfield is conspiring against the Hikers it would seem. And the last ball of the over brings disaster for the Hikers. Dillon Douglas is bowled by Delorn Johnson trying to play an extravagant stroke. He goes for 5 runs and smashes his bat onto the ground in frustration. 

Dillon Douglas has a shaky start as well. Swinging and missing, the ball going on to hit his body. Javid Harry bowls a superlative first over. The pressure of the scoreboard and the occasion telling on the batsmen. The Salt Pond Breakers are also being electric on the field. Both Dean Browne and Dillon Douglas on 1 run each. Can the Hikers recover from the early wicket of their hitter-in-chief Salvan Browne?

Salvan Browne is out off the second ball! The drama continues in the final. Salvan Browne is out for 6 off 2 balls. Bringing the young Dillon Douglas out at No 3 in the first over itself. 

Ambris has his last words with Javid Harry, thr skipper seen reading some notes taken out of his pocket. The destructive Salvan Browne faces the first ball. And starts off with a first ball six with a pull! We are off in the chase.

Walker and Strough try to take as much mileage as they can from their strokes by running as hard as they can, turning ones and twos. The last ball of the over just beats the fielder in the deep as we end the innings with a boundary. The Breakers finish their 10 overs with 100/6.

A run out to start off the 10th over. The batsmen are running for everything now and they lose a wicket in the process. The set batsman Hector is out for 28. Rickford Walker comes out at No 8. 

Wesrick Strough, another powerful hitter of the ball, comes out at No 7. Dean Browne bowls the 9th over and starts off by giving away five bye runs. Hector steps out of his crease and slams the bowler down the ground for a six to compound the bowler's sorrows. Strough gets four fortunate runs with an unseemly looking shot down to third man. Last over coming up with Hector on 27, Strough on 5.

Kenson Dalzell comes into the attack and has much more fortune than his brother. Gets Urnel Thomas bowled. Urnel, who was looking increasingly frustrated, is out for 13. Delorn Johnson, who has to bowl out of his skin in the second innings, comes out at No 6. And he tries to give his team a fighting chance, swinging at it from ball one. The fifth ball is smashed over extra cover for a flat six. But Delorn Johnson is out off the last ball. Caught and bowled by the bowler. He departs for a quick 3-ball 8. Donwell Hector, on 19, with the responsibility of giving a strong finish to the innings.

Jeremy Haywood bowls the 7th over and the boundatries continue to elude the batsmen. Only a few overs left and Urnel and Donwell will have to start connecting from now on if the Breakers have to get to a competetive total.  Hector on 14, Thomas on 13.

Urnel Thomas gets into business! Smashes one high six on the leg side. Kimson Dalzell comes on to bowl the first over of pace in the innings but struggles to control his line. And that turns out to be a long over, with the umpire having plenty of opportunities to stretch his arms. A scrappy over, with runs coming off bottom edges and top edges. Hector on 10, Thomas on 11.

Urnel Thomas has to take responsibility to take Salt Pond Breakers to a fighting total today. Donwell Hector, who has been pushed down the order, has joined Urnel. The Hikers are being electric on the field in this final. Donwell Hector makes a strong connection off his second ball. Six! The 2nd six of the innings and a welcome reprieve for the Breakers. Two dot balls to end though. Hector on 7, Thomas on 3.

Wicket! Stapleton tries to attack Dillon but is caught in the deep.  He is out for 10. Urnel Thomas, Salt Pond's dependable batsman, walks in at No 4. Thomas has a hard time facing Dillon for the rest of the over. And there is disaster for Salt Pond off the last ball of the over! Salvan Browne plucks a sensational diving catch to get Ambris out. Ambris falls for 15. Dillon Douglas has turned the final already and he is yet to bat!

Lewis returns to bowl the 3rd over. Stapleton leaves one - a rare sight in this format. Good pressure by the bowling unit in these early stages. The Salt Pond top order, usually a free scoring unit, has been stifled a bit so far. The pressure of the big match also might be a factor. Ambris pierces the off side with a cut shot to get four more. Both batsmen into double digits.

Dillon Douglas bowls the 2nd over, as the Hikers continue to use their spinners in the Powerplay overs. And the first six of the match is smashed on the leg side by Stapleton. Ambris also gets a boundary to end the over. Stapleton on 8. Ambris on 7.

Ambris gets off the mark off the very first ball. Nedd also follows suit. Quick singles to start off the innings. But Nedd is caught out in the infield in the first over. He is out for 1 run. Stapleton joins Ambris.

La Soufriere Hikers win the toss and choose to bowl first. Sunil Ambris and Kadir Nedd come out to open for Salt Pond. Othneil Lewis, the tall off spinner, with the ball to start off the big match. Here we go!

Not only has the Vincy Premier League been manna from heaven to those who have been starved of live cricket for the last three months, it has also been the answer to prayers from those playing fantasy leagues based on the sport. Ambris's team or Maloney's team? Who would you bet on to win the final match?

Presenting the teams for a VPL match for the last time, and quite fittingly, presenting the top two teams in the competition. Both teams have won 8 out of their 9 matches. One of them will win their 9th match in 10 in a couple of more hours and claim the title.

Salt Pond Breakers: Sunil Ambris, Delorn Johnson, Rickford Walker, Donwell Hector, Jeremy Layne, Javid Harry, Benniton Stapleton, Kadir Nedd, Seon Sween, Wesrick Strough, Kevin Peters, Christroy John, Urnel Thomas.

La Soufriere Hikers: Desron Maloney, Dean Browne, Dillon Douglas, Othneil Lewis, Salvan Browne, Rayan Williams, Rawdon Bentick, Casmus Hackshaw, Kenson Dalzell, Jeremy Haywood, Tilron Harry, Kimson Dalzell, Camano Cain

Asif Hooper has carried the Grenadines Divers all through this competition. First into the semifinals by the skin of their teeth and now into 3rd place. His elation at this victory is understandable. Kesrick Williams ends his VPL participation by giving away 17 runs in one over.

Next up is the big match - the final between Salt Pond Breakers and La Soufriere Hikers

Hooper welcomes Kesrick Williams into the attack with a lofted six hit over the bowler's head. That brings the equation down to 11 runs off 11 balls. Singles come off every other ball and then Asif Hooper slams a six down the ground off the fifth ball. He follows that up by taking his helmet off, throwing it to the ground and running a lap to the square umpire and punching the air. He hits the winning runs off the last ball of the over and the Grenadines Divers claim 3rd spot. Hooper the Man of the Match in this playoff, with his 67 off 31 balls.

Harper continues to give able company to his skipper. Lifts Kevin Abraham into the stands for his second six of the innings. Hooper, now moving to take on the role of the more defensive partner, has crossed 50, he is not out on 52 off 27 balls. Wayne Harper, not out on 15 off 6 balls, has proved to be the middle order saviour for the Divers. Kesrick Williams to bowl the 9th over. Divers need 17 runs to win in 2 overs.

Hooper finally has some luck going his way. One of his lofted shots lands just beyond the reach of a fielder. He moves his score to 49. And his partner Wayne Harper manages to smash the last ball of the over for a six. One run chase is finally looking to go to script for the Divers. They need 28 runs to win in 3 overs. Surprisingly, it seems Kesrick Williams will not bowl his full quota of overs today.

Hooper loses his third partner in the sixth over. Alex Samuel commits the same mistake his teammates did, holing out in the deep. He is out for 2. Hooper keeps going at the other end. Smashes a six on the leg side to move his score into the 40s. Wayne Harper is the new man to join him. 42 runs needed in 4 overs to claim 3rd place in the VPL for Hooper and the Divers.

Shem Browne starts off with a first ball six but is caught in the deep facing his second ball. As short and sweet knocks as they come. Alex Samuel joins Hooper. Samuel too skies one but survives. The Divers have done a good job in the first half of the innings, but like in their previous matches, look in danger of losing the plot now.

Only four runs comes in the fourth over, as Dember finishes off his quota with a better over. The first wicket in the innings comes in the fifth over. Pierre gets caught in the deep. He is out for 7. Hooper, going strong on 35 at the other end, is joined by Shem Browne. The problem for the Divers, of course, is that they do not bat very deep.

Hooper continues his charge in the third over as well, as Nigel Small is thrown the ball. Fours coming in every direction from Asif's bat, with the skipper having taken his helmet off. Fair to say Asif Hooper has also been one of the most colourful cricketers in the VPL. Never shying from showing his emotions. Hooper moves to 33, Pierre on 7.

Hooper continues to be the aggressor in the second over as well, with Dember's spin the order of the day. Hooper starts off with a four and follows it up later in the over with a six down the ground. Romano Pierre playing the role of foil, handing the strike over to his skipper at every chance. Pierre not out on 2, Hooper on 22 off 9 balls.

Kimali Williams, not Kesrick, opens the bowling for the Rangers, as the Divers go in with the tested opening pair of Pierre and Asif Hooper. And Hooper gets into the act straight up. He is a tall man, and he draws himself up to his full height as Kimali bowls short, and pulls with force for six. 13/0 after 1 over

Razine Browne bowls the last over, but continues missing his line and length today. Hyron Shallow fails to make him pay, swinging and missing far too many times for a set batsman in the last over of the innings. Kesrick makes better contact and the Rangers end with a double. Shallow stays not out on 66*, Kesrick not out on 19.

Kesrick Williams is down. He is hit on the body by the ball and he collapses to the ground, his helmet rolling away. Asif Hooper runs in to check on him. Kesrick manages to shake off the blow and find his way to the non striker's end with a single. Braxie continues to trouble the batsmen with his changes of pace. Shallow manages to pick the fifth ball of the over, freeing his arms and cutting for six. Shallow moves to 65. Kesrick on 12. Could Shallow overtake Ambris's 75 for the highest individual score in the VPL?

Razine Browne, who has been one of the best death overs bowlers in this competition, bowls his first over. He does not have much success in his first over though, both Shallow and Kesrick manage to get boundaries off him. Shallow gets to his 50 with a cut shot slashed through the infield. He ends the over with a four slammed into deep midwicket. Shallow, hitting some better form against the faster bowlers finally, moves to 58 off 30 balls. Kesrick with him on 11.

Obed McCoy continues his overs and he troubles Shallow again. Shallow gets something going his way after a while as he gets a four with an outside edge that runs down past the keeper's right. Kesrick Williams has more of a punch to offer against McCoy. Ends the over with a six hit straight down the ground. Those were Kesrick's first runs. Shallow still not out, on 43 off 26 balls now.

Run out! Romel Currency is run out. Braxie Browne makes Currency uncomfortable with a couple of balls as the Divers continue their overs of seam bowling. Braxie picks up the ball in his follow-through and gets a direct hit to get Currency out. The skipper is out for 11. Kesrick Williams comes out at No 4.
Shallow, on 35, is on strike, but he looks much more docile now than he was against the spinners.
Shallow is then dropped at third man. Braxie buries his face in his hands. These last two overs of pace has pulled it back for the Divers though.

The first over of pace. Obed McCoy to bowl the 5th over. And he gets the fielders excited straightaway. Beats Shallow on the off side, with the ball moving away from the batsman very late. And the second ball is even better, a little shorter than the first ball. Shallow just manages to pull his bat away in time. The third ball is wider, Shallow swings, but makes no contact. A fourth consecutive dot ball! Shallow swings and misses again. Shallow manages to get a leg bye to get off strike off the fifth ball. Currency made to cramp for room with the last ball as well. A superb over from McCoy.

Currency gets his first boundary of the day with a cut square of the wicket. Geron Whyllie comes on to bowl, with the Divers continuing to stick with their spinners for now. Currency ends the over with a pull shot for four. Both batsmen moves into double digits. Shallow on 34, Currency on 11.

Hyron Shallow continues in the same vein against Hooper as well. Boundaries come in every direction as Shallow moves to 33. Currency content with giving the strike to Shallow for now.

Hyron Shallow cuts for four to start off the 2nd over. He brings up the first six of the match with a lifted shot over the extra cover ropes. He continues to get width on the off side and he cuts again for four. 15 runs for Shallow in that over. Currency ends the over with a single.

A good catch in the deep to start off the first over. Asif Hooper with the wicket again. Hooper has been seen losing his patience with his fielder more than once in this competition, this time he is happy though. Kenneth Dember departs for a duck. Romel Currency comes out at No 3, joining Hyron Shallow.

Romel Currency wins the toss and decides to take first batting. The Botanic Garden Rangers innings to take place first. Hooper's Divers to bowl first. Match begins in a few moments.

Starting in a few more minutes is the match to decide who will be the 3rd placed team. Botanic Garden Rangers, which features Kesrick Williams, and Grenadines Divers, led by the inspirational Asif Hooper, will clash in that match. The 3rd place match is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm. The final is scheduled for 9:30 pm.

Welcome to the last day of cricket in St Vincent and the Grenadines islands, when Salt Pond Breakers and La Soufriere Hikers will face off to earn the right of being the first ever VPL champions. Whichever side will win this will have richly deserved it. Both teams have won 8 of their 9 matches in the competition and there really has been little to separate them. Ambris has led the Breakers admirably, while the top order of Salvan Browne and Dillon Douglas has been on fire for the Hikers.